Circuit-controller.



H. A. STEBN.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1911. r 1,083,950. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1911.

1,083,950. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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CIRCUIT GONI'LQLHJH.

APPLIGATIONYILLD.IA.N.\5,19H.

1,083,950, Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

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v WITNESSES: I yEN oR g '2 BY W 7 ATTORNEY H. A. STEEN.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1911.

1,083,950, Patented Jan. 13,1914;

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WITNESSES:

' 7 ATTbRNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HALFDA A nnnAs sTnnN, or MrLwnUKnn, wIsooNsIN, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, a CORPORATION or PENN- SYLVANIA CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HALFDAN ANDREAS STEEN, a subject of the King of Norway, and a resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Circuit-Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to controllers for electric circuits and it has special reference to elevator controllers and similar apparatus.

The object of my invention is to provide adevice of the above indicated character which shall be durable in' construction, reliable under severe operating conditions and particularly adapted to control the starting operation of an elevator motor in either dition. Each set of movable contact members is actuated by a series of cams which are so disposed upon a cam shaft as to effect the closure of the contact members in a predetermined sequence. Means are also provided. whereby the contact members which govern the direction of motor rotation may be operated from the elevator car, after which the resistance sections are automatically removed from the circuit by means of the second set of contact members.

' In order to regulate the speed of operation of the resistance-controlling contact members, an adjustable time-element device is employed.

My invention may-best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a circuit controller constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in side Referring to the drawings, the device here shown comprises an insulating panel 1, a plurality of shafts .2, 3, 4 and 5 which are rotatably mounted upon the insulating panel 1 by means of bearing brackets 6; a plurality'- of movable contact members 7 to 11, inclusive, which are loosely mounted upon the shaft 2 and are adapted to cooperate with a plurality of stationary contact members 12 to 16, inclusive, for the purpose of connecting a three-phase induction motor 17 to a plurality of line conductors 18, 19 and 20 and for governing the direction of totation of the motor; a plurality of cams 21 to 25, inclusive, which are fixed to the shaft 3 and are adapted to actuate the movable contact members 7 to 11, inclusive; a plurality of movable contact members 26 to 30, inclusive, which are loosely mounted upon the shaft 4 and are adapted to co-.

operate with the stationary contact members 31 to 35, inclusive, for the purpose of eliminating resistance sections 36, 37 and 38, stepby-step, from the secondary circuit of the induction motor 17; a plurality of cams 39 to 43, inclusive, which are rigidly associated with the shaft 5 for efiecting the closure of the movable contact members 26 to 30, inclusive, in a predetermined sequence; a

counterweight 44 which is normally held in its raised position and is adapted to rotate the cam shaft 5; an adjustable dash pot 45 to oppose the action of the counterweight 44 and to determine its time of operation; a latch 46 for restraining the counterweight in its raised position; an operating lever 47 and a rod 48 associated therewith for releasing the latch 46; a connecting member 49 for raising the counterweight 44 to its normal operating position; an accentuating device 50 for maintaining the cam shaft 3 in its neutral position, and a s rocket 51 and chain 52 whereby the cam s aft 3 may be ope-rated from the elevator car.

All of the movable contact members 7 to 11, inclusive, and 26 to 30, inclusive, are of like construction and each comprises a carbon contact block 53 which is removably secured to the upper end ofa body member 54, the latter being clamped to a hollow insulating block 55 by means of a clamping plate 56 and a plurality of screws 57 of conducting material. A flexible connection 58 of conducting material is secured at one end to the clamping plate 56 and at the other to a terminal stud 59 which is suitabl mounted on the insulating panel 1, whereby current is conducted to the contact block 53, aswill be readily understood.

The hollow insulating block is fitted tightly to a projecting arm 60 of a bearing member 61 which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 2 and is provided with an arm 62 and a projecting member 63. Associated with the supporting member 61 is a cooperating member 64 which is also mounted upon the shaft 2 and is provided with an arm 65 and a pivotally mounted roller 66. A spring 67 is disposed between the arms 62 and 65 for the purpose of lending resiliency and insuring a good contact between the coiiperating stationary and movable contact members.

The stationary contact members 16 to 20, inclusive, and 31 to 35, inclusive, are of like construction and each comprises a contact block 68 which is removably secured to one end of av terminal stud 69, the latter being mounted upon the insulating panel 1.

The cams 22 to 25, inclusive, and 39 to 43, inclusive, are also of like construction and the outline of each is so designed as to effect the closure of its associated movable contact member when rotated in one direction in contact with the roller 66, according to the usual practice. Furthermore, each cam is provided with lugs or knockers 70 and 71 for the purpose of engaging the projecting members 63, under certain conditions, whereby the movable contact members are disengaged from their cotiperating stationary contact members. The cam 21 is essentially similar to the cams hereinbefore described, but differs therefrom in that it is so designed as to actuate the movable contact member 7 when rotated in either direction.

In order that the line connections may be established simultaneously, the cams 23 and 25 are so disposed upon the shaft 3, with reference to the cam 21, as to effect a concurrent closure of the movable contact members 7, 9 and 11 when the cam shaft 3 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, while the came 22 and 24 are reversed upon the shaft 3 and alined in such manner as to o erate in conjunction with the cam 21 to e ect the closure of movable contact members 7, 8 and 10, when the cam shaft 3 is rotated in a clockwise direction. The arrangement'of the cams 39 to 43, inclusive, upon the cam shaft 5 difiers materially from the arrangement hereinbefore described, as each cam is given a predetermined angular displacement with respect to its adjacent cam, for the purpose 0 actuating the movjable' contact members 26 to 30, inclusive, in a predetermined sequence, in order that the resistance sections 36 to 38, inclusive, may

The counterweight 44 forms an integral part of a weight lever 72 which is keyed at one end of the shaft 4 and is provided with an extended arm 73, to the end of which a piston rod 74 of the dash pot 45 is pivotally is keyed to the shaft 4 and meshes with a pinion 76 which is rigidly associated with the cam shaft 5, whereby rotational movement is imparted to the cam shaft 5 when the counterweight 44 is allowed to fall.

The dash pct 45 and its mode of operation are old and familiar in the art and a detailed description of the same is therefore considered to be unnecessary. It will be noted, however, that the dash pot 45 is pivotally suspended from the cam shaft 3 by means of a lug 77, and is also provided with a needle valve 78, whereby adjustments of its action may be made, as desired. The

a trigger member 79 which is keyed thereto and adapted to be engaged by the latch 46 when the counterweight 44 is in its normal raised osition. An arm 80 forms an extended lntegral part of the trigger member 79 and is associated with the lower end of and slot connection. The upper end of the member 49 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the operating lever 47, which is also provided with laterally and oppositely extending arms 81 and 82, the latter being adapted to engage the extended shaft 2 andthus to restrict movement of the cam shaft 3 in either direction. Furthermore,

a lug 83, from which the rod 48 is pivotally suspended in such manner as to extend loosely through a shaft 84 which is secured between lever arms 85 of the latch 46, the latter being pivotally supported upon a projecting arms86 of a bearing bracket 87. A coil spring 88 surrounds the rod 48 between the lug 83 and the shaft 84 for the purpose of maintaining the latch 46 in contact with the trigger 79, as will be readily understood. Moreover, adjusting nuts 89 are fitted upon ;a threaded portion 90 of the rod 48 andare adapted to engage the shaft 84 under predetermined conditions and to withdraw the latch 46 from the trigger 79, thus releasing the counterweight 44.

The accentuating device 50 comprises a cam 91 which is keyed to the cam shaft 3 and is provided with a notch 92 in its surface to receive a roller 93, the latter being pivotally mounted at the end of an arm 94 which is loosely mount-ed upon the shaft 2. A lever arm 95 constitutes an integral and extended part of the arm 94 and a heavy the arm 95 and a projecting1 arm 97 of a bearing bracket 98. It is evi ent, therefore,

be eliminated from the circuit step-by-step connected. Furthermore, a gear segment 75 the connecting member 49 by means of a pin coil spring 96 is disposed between the end of opposite end of the shaft 4 is provided with the levermember 47 is also provided with that the cam shaft 3 is accentuated or centered in its neutral position through the agency of the device just described.

The sprocket 51 which is keyed to the shaft 3 and its associated chain 52, may be of any suitable construction, or any other devices for accomplishing the same purpose may be employed. I

Assulning the various parts of; the circuit controller to occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the operation thereof is as follows: If the cam shaft 3 be rotated in a clockwise direction through the agency of the chain 52 and the sprocket 51, the closure of movable contact members 7, 8 and 10 is effected, as will be readily understood, and the elevator motor 17 is connected to the line conductors 18, 19 and 20 for a particular direction of rotation. As the cam shaft 3 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the roller 93 is withdrawn from the notch 92 of the cam 91 and rides upon its outer surface without imposing any vrestraint upon the action thereof. 9 At the same time, theoperating lever 47 is also rotated and, consequently, the connecting link 49 is drawn up into the position shown in Fig. 4'without imparting any movement to the shaft 4, because of the pin and slot connection at its lower end. As the rod 48 is moved upwardly, contact between the adjusting nuts 89 and the shaft 84 is effected and the latch 46 is tripped from the trigger 79, thereby releasing the counterweight 44 which falls under the action of gravity in opposition to the dash pot 45.

The movement thus imparted to-the shaft 4 is transmitted to the cam shaft 5 through the gear segment 75 and pinion 76, whereby the movable contact members 26 to 30, in-

clusive, are closed, in a predetermined se quence, by the cooperative engagement with the cams 39 to 43, inclusive. Thus, the subdivided resistance sections 36, 37 and 38 are eliminated step-by-step from the secondary circuit of the elevator motor 17 and full running conditions of said motor are established.

The relationship of the various component parts of the circuit controller are shown in Fig. 4 in one of the closed positions.

In order to discontinue the motor operation, the cam shaft 3 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by means of the chain 52 and sprocket 51, thereby effecting the opening of the movable contact members 7, 8 and.

10 byreason of the engagement of the lugs or knockers70 with the projecting members 63 of said movable contact members.

During the counter-clockwise rotation of the cam shaft 3, power is transmitted to the shaft 4 through the lever 47, the connecting link 49, and the arm 80, whereby the counter-weight 44 is gradually raised to its normal upper posit-ion. Moreover, during this operation, the spring 88 exerts a downward pressure upon the latch 46 and thus engage- .ment is imparted to the cam shaft 5 through the gear segment 75 and pinion 76, whereby the movable contact members 26 to 30, inelusive, are opened in a reverse order, and the resistance sections 36, 37 and 38 are again cut into circuit.

WVhen the shaft 3 is rotated back to its normal position, the roller 93 drops into the notch 92 in the cam 91 and tends to maintain said shaft in its center or neutral position, through the action of the spring 96.

Operation of the motor 17 in an opposite direction of rotation may be effected in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described, and, on account of its similarityto the mode of operation already set forth in detail, it is believed that those familiar with the art will experience no difliculty in understanding the same, without further description.

While I have shown and described a circuit-controlling device ofspecific. construction, it is evident that many modifications can be made in the arrangement and location of parts without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention and I desire \that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a plurality of parallel shafts, a plurality of sets of movable contact members rotatably secured to certain of said shafts, a plurality of sets of stationary contact members to cooperate with said movable contact members, a plurality of sets of cams to actuate said movable contact members, and means for operating one set of cams to efl ect the closure of a portion of the movable contact members on one shaft, of a weight associated with the other set of cams, a trigger member associated with said weight, a latch for engaging said trigger member, and a tripping member for releasing said latch subsequent to the closure of said portion of contact members, whereby the movable contact members-of the remaining set are closed in a predetermined sequence.

2. The combination with a set of cooperating stationary and movable contact members, means for eflecting the closure of a portion of said contact members, a second set of cooperating stationary and movable contact members, means normally-tending to close the contact members of ,the second set in a predetermined sequence, a latch for restraining said closing means, and means for releasing said latchsubs-equent to the closure of said first named portion of contact members, whereby the contact members of the second set are closed in a predetermined sequence, of adjustable means for delaying the closing operation of the contact members of said second set.

3. The combination with an electric motor adapted for operation in both directions, and a plurality of subdivided resistance sections for limiting the starting current thereof, of a circuit controller comprising a set of cooperating stationary and movable contact members for governing the direction of rotation of said motor, a second set of coopera'ting stationary 'and movable contact members for varying the circuit connections of said resistance sections, means for operating the movable contact members of said first set, automatic means embodying a weight, a latch and a striking member associated with said first operating means for effecting the operation of the movable contact members of said second set in a predetermined sequence subsequent to the operation of the movable contact members of the first set, and means for delaying the operation of the movable contact members of the second set.

l. The combination with an electric motor and a plurality of resistance sections for limiting the starting current thereof, of a circuit controller comprising a set of cooperating stationary and movable contact members for controlling the direction of rotation of said motor, a set of cooperating stationary and movable contact members for varying the connections of said resistance sections, sets of rigidly, associated cams to cooperate with said sets of movable contact members, a pivotally mounted supporting arm, a counterweight disposed at one end thereof, and normally held in its raised position and adapted to cause the cams associated with the movable contact members of the second set to effect the closure thereof in a predetermined sequence, a time-element device associated with the other end of said arm and opposing the action of said counterweight, a trigger associated with said counterweight, a latch for restraining said trigger and a striking member associated with the set ofcams for operating the first set of movable contact members for tripping said latch subsequent to the operation of the contact members of the first set.

5. The combination with a set of cooperating stationary and movable contact members, means for concurrently closing a portion of said movable contact members, a

- second set of cooperating stationary and movable contact members adapted to be closed in a predetermined sequence, means normally tending to actuate the contact members of said second set, and meansfor restraining said action, of means dependent upon the action of the movable contact members of said first set for releasing said restraining means, and a linkage mechanism associated with said closing means and said actuating means for restoring energy to said actuating means and for opening the coopera.

ating contact members of the second set, sub

sequent to the opening of said first set of contact members.

6. The combination with a plurality of cooperating stationary and movable contact members, means associated with certain of said movable contact members for effecting the closure of a portion thereof, a weight associated with the remaining movable contact members for normally tending to close the same in a predetermined sequence, a latch for restraining said Weight in its raised position, a tripping member dependent upon the closure of a portion of said certain movable contact members for releasing said latch, and a linkage mechanism embodying a lost-motion connection for opening said remaining contact members and for raising said weight prior to the opening of said portion of said certain movable contact members.

7. The combination with two sets of cooperating stationary and movable contact members, a plurality of rigidly associated cams adapted to be rotated in either direction to effect the concurrent closure of a portion of one set of contact members, and a second set of rigidly associated cams adapted to cooperate with said second set of contact members to efiect closure thereof in a predetermined sequence, of automatic means comprising a weight normally disposed in its raised position and adapted to actuate said second set of cams, a latch to restrain said Weight and a tripping member associated with said first setof cams for releasing said latch on either direction of rotation of said first set of cams, for closing said second set of contact members subsequent to the closure of a portion of the first set ofcontact members.

8. The combination with a plurality of parallel rotatable shafts, crank arms respectively fixed thereto, a weighted member eccentrically secured to one of said shafts and a rod connecting said crank arms, of

combination with a plurality of parallel rotatable shafts, contact members associated therewith, means for rotating one of said shafts, and a Weighted member eccentric-ally fixed to the other shaft, of a crank arm fixed to the second shaft and constituting a trigger, a latch for engaging said crank arm and restraining said Weighted member and a tripping member associated With the first shaft for releasing said latch under predetermined conditions.

11. The combination With a plurality of parallel rotatable shafts, crank arms re spectively fixed thereto, a Weighted member eccentrically secured to one of said shafts and a rod connecting said crank arms, and having a lost-motion pin-and-slot connection with the crank arm of the last named shaft, of an auxiliary crank arm rigidly associated with the last named crank arm, a pivotally mounted member for engaging said auxiliary crank arm when the Weighted member is in its raised position and a member pivotally associated With the crank arm of the other shaft for engaging said pivotally mounted member and releasing it from said auxiliary crank arm.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of December 1910.

HALF DAN ANDREAS STEEN.

Witnesses:

H. W. CHENEY, N. WILKINSDN. 

